Chapter 518: Entering the Country

「I can see it, that must be the border checkpoint」

「Really? That was really fast」

「Nn. Urushi is amazing」

On the day after saving Khanna and the others, Fran and Urushi departed with them at sunrise and in less than two hours they were about to reach the border checkpoint on Belios Kingdom’s side.

We had run through the pass while carrying them all on Urushi’s back.

Khanna and the others were our top priority, so we only killed the closest magic beasts along the way and ignored the others.

No matter what happens, since she had accepted the escort request, we have to do it properly.

「We’ll only make a commotion if we continue like this, so let’s get down for now」

「I understand」

「…I wonder is it possible for anyone to use a magic beast like him huh?」

「Th-that’s impossible, I’ve never heard of it before」

Dianne and Shella remained pale the entire time on Urushi’s back. They must have understood that he was not only big but also capable.

Shella had been by Dianne’s side ever since she got to know Fran’s abilities. And apparently, Dianne had decided not to offend Fran any further by speaking rudely to her. Thanks to that, it was nice and quiet now.

「Let’s go then」

「Nn」

With Fran in the lead, we headed for the border checkpoint. We were told that the screening was quite strict, but would we make it through?

This border checkpoint was just as big as the one on Kranzel Kingdom’s side. It was also built as a fort so in case of emergency it can be used to hide from magic beasts and enemy troops.

When we got closer, we were being targeted with a bow from inside the fort. However, this may be just preparation in case ruffians or enemy soldiers disguise themselves as travelers. And since we didn’t feel any clear killing intent, Fran and I endeavored to ignore it for now.

「Halt! Only four people?」

「Nn」

「Show me your identification」

「Okay」

「Understood」

She took out her identification card as she was told and handed it to the soldier. Well, as expected, they were a little bit surprised at first, but once they found out that her guild card was real, they allowed us to enter the country without any problems.

It seems by being a high-ranked adventurer plays a part in that. The Belios Kingdom would also benefit from having more strong adventurers in their country after all, so they have no reason to refuse her.

「Are these three people with you too? Or are they from a different group?」

「Fran-san is the escort we hired the other day」

「Hmm. Morley Trading Company? I’ve never heard of them before…」

「It’s because we’re still a small trading company」

「So you’re a daughter of the trading company owner and these two are your servants huh…?」

Oya? Khanna and the others seemed to be under some suspicion. However, it seems Khanna was the daughter of a trading company owner. I see now, the guts she showed yesterday was very merchant-like. However, I think she still has an elegant side too.

They might know if she is the daughter of a large trading company. But would the daughter of a small trading company that the immigration officer, who should have a lot of information in his head, had never heard of, display that kind of elegance? I know that she had received a strict education too, but…

Dianne’s existence with her was a mystery. She called herself a Knight, but her job was a Swordsman. This means that she is not a Knight because of her job, but a knight by status.

But would a guard of a trading company make such a claim? Of course, there’s also the possibility that it’s just her longing to become a knight. However, she must have clearly said that she was a knight of the Red Banner.

There’s also the possibility that she was picked up by the trading company after she was fired, but would that allow her to keep calling herself a knight?

(Master, what should we do about Khanna and the others?)

『Hmmm… Let’s watch them for a while』

(Okay)

When push comes to shove, we must insist that we are irrelevant.

「Where is this trading company is located?」

「It’s in Dards, a port city in the Kranzel Kingdom」

「What is the name of the owner of that company?」

「Raymond Morley」

「What is your purpose in coming to Belios Kingdom?」

「We’re going to the special self-governing region」

「…Hmm」

This immigration officer seemed to have some kind of lie detection skill. Although his level was still low, he should be able to sense at least a hint of discomfort if the other party lied. And it seems she didn’t trigger that skill. However, he was still looking at Khanna and the others with an unconvinced look on his face.

Having years of experience as a border immigration officer let him know that they’re somewhat suspicious. However, based on his skill there is nothing suspicious about these girls.

I was also using the Principal of Falsehood, but there was no lie in Khanna’s words. As expected, she is really a daughter of a trading company owner in the Kranzel Kingdom huh?

The officer who had asked the question before was currently having a sneaky discussion with a man who seemed to be his boss. Well, I can hear it though.

「What should we do?」

「Is that girl is an adventurer from the Kranzel Kingdom?」

「Yes」

「If they hired an escort from the adventurer’s guild in the Kranzel Kingdom, we can say that their identity has been proven by the guild. It’s fine then since their destination is to the special self-governing region」

「Are you sure about that?」

「It’s fine as long as their destination is really to that place. But don’t forget to inquire later if they really had entered the special self-governing region okay?」

「Yes!」

Did Khanna use her for this? I see, if they have an adventurer as their escort, anyone would think that they had requested an escort at the Adventurer’s Guild. In other words, the Adventurer’s Guild has recognized that she is not a suspicious person.

This doesn’t mean that she has fooled us, but as expected, Khanna was just like a wily fox.

In the end, the four of us were not detained any further and succeeded in crossing the border. Well, I guess there is nothing more that can be done.

Also, the fact that the destination was a special self-governing region seemed to be another reason why we were overlooked. It seems that the autonomous region is treated as a different country within the Belios Kingdom. So, I guess they just pushed us over to them.

Fran turns to face Khanna when they have walked a short distance past the border checkpoint. While Dianne and Shella are checking maps and at such a distance from her.

「The request ends here」

「Yes. Thank you very much for escorting us. And thanks to Urushi-san too, I was able to enter the Belios Kingdom earlier than I expected」

「Nn. And hey?」

「Is there something?」

「Is Dianne a knight?」

Fran was actually curious about it too. Like me, she probably didn’t want to be stopped at the border checkpoint for asking it, so she kept quiet.

「…That’s right. But won’t you care about my identity?」

「Nn? Not really?」

「Eh?」

「Adventurers don’t care about the past」

Many adventurers have left their past behind. And it is forbidden to pry into their past by an unwritten rule. It seemed that she had acquired this mentality while spending some time among them. Well, she was indifferent to her past too after all.

「More than that, I was worried about her」

「Are you worried about her?」

「Nn. Dianne said that she was a knight, and she also had dressed as a knight too」

In the future, there would be other people who would be suspicious of Khanna’s identity. Fran was genuinely worried about Khanna. After all, she was interested in this strong-willed girl.

「Aah, do you mean that… She’s not really my servant, as I’ve only borrowed her from my father… At first, I tried to get her to dress up as an adventurer, but she just hated that idea」

She seemed to have a tremendous prejudice against adventurers, and I don’t blame her. It’s like asking Fran to pretend to be a blue cat. She would refuse even if it means she would die.

「Although she may be inflexible and narrow-minded, she’s quite a skilled one. It’s hard to find a girl with that certain level of strength after all」

Even a person with a difficult personality like Dianne can be a valuable female escort huh.

「And thank you for keeping quiet at the border checkpoint」

Khanna then bowed her head deeply once again. It’s true that if Fran had interrupted her at that moment, Khanna and the others might have been in a tight spot right now.

Dianne’s suspiciousness and the fact that she only hired Fran until they had crossed the border. I don’t think she has any bad intentions, but I just didn’t want for us to get into any more trouble.

「Don’t mind it」

「Fufu. I was really lucky to have met you. Let’s meet again next time」

「Nn. likewise」